tci Part B Insider - 2003 Issue 19

Use Counseling to Raise E/M Levels - But Don't Overuse This Technique

Want to bill for a 99214 or 99215 office visit but can't prove the required level of severity of medical decision-making and physical examination? Don't panic! If the physician spends more than 50 percent of a visit on counseling, you can bill for the visit based on the time the physician spends face-to-face with the patient instead of the usual MDM, history and exam. For example, you can bill for a 99214 if the physician spends 25 minutes with the patient and 13 of those involve counseling, says Mary Beth Black, senior associate with Medical Management Associates Inc. in...

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